Techniques and Tools to Enhance Blind and Visually Impaired Students Participation in High School Level and General Chemistry Laboratory Classes

该项目旨在开发工具和技术，使盲人和视障学生能够在没有视力助手的帮助下进行一般化学实验室实验。这项工作的具体目标包括：（1）通过将JAWS语音软件与Vernier实验室工具、ID mate便携式条形码阅读器和ISB使用的其他工具相结合，对印第安纳州盲人学校（ISB）目前使用的Addison Wesley化学高中实验室课程进行调整，（2）在宾夕法尼亚州立大学、杜鲁门州立大学和ISB测试和改进工具和技术，（3）在ISB项目的第2年和第3年对修改后的课程进行实地测试，（4）通过将研究组与使用视力辅助的对照组进行比较，对技能、概念学习和态度结果进行详细评估，（5）为盲人和VI学生创建引导性探究综合实验室练习，以及（6）通过出版物和在会议上举办展览来传播成果。该项目团队由一名盲人研究生（Supalo）和一名盲人化学教授（Wohlers）组成，他们将主要负责新工具和技术的开发和初步测试。他们将与ISB的科学教师Roth和宾夕法尼亚州立大学的化学教育专家Greenberg密切合作，进行实地测试和评估。

This project seeks to develop tools and techniques that will allow blind and visually impaired (VI)students to carry out general chemistry laboratory experiments without the aid of sighted assistants. Specific objectives of this work include:(1)adaptation of the Addison Wesley Chemistry high school laboratory curriculum currently used at the Indiana School for the Blind (ISB), by combining JAWS speech software with Vernier laboratory tools,ID mate portable bar code readers,and other tools in use at ISB,(2)testing and refining the tools and techniques at Penn State,Truman State,and ISB,(3)field testing the modified curriculum in years 2 and 3 of the program at ISB,(4)performing a detailed assessment of skills,concept learning,and attitudinal outcomes by comparing study groups with control groups that use sighted assistance,(5)creation of a guided inquiry integrative laboratory exercise for blind and VI students,and (6)dissemination of results through publications and exhibits at conferences. This project team consists of a blind graduate student (Supalo)and a blind chemistry professor (Wohlers)who will have primary responsibility for the development and preliminary testing of new tools and techniques.They will collaborate closely with Roth, a science teacher at ISB,and Greenberg,a chemical education expert at Penn State,in the field testing and assessment phases of the program.